University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) has taken an initiative to outreach its research outcomes through organising short courses and workshops at grass root level of the province thereby to become an impact creator on society and rural economy.
This was stated by UAF vice chancellor Professor Iqrar Ahmad Khan while addressing the participants of inaugural session of training of trainers programme on "fruits and vegetable processing/preservation techniques", jointly organised by National Institute of Food Science & Technology (Nifsat) and Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Company (PHDEC) here at Nestle Hall on Tuesday.
Professor Iqrar A Khan apprised the participants that UAF management was vigorously pursuing the agenda of a community building by conducting various training programmes for trainers, rural farmers and new entrepreneurs. He said that 45 percent labour force is engaged in agriculture which contributes 25 percent to national GDP, hence there is a tremendous potential and need to transform an inefficient agriculture system into an efficient fashion by equipping the rural population with state of the art techniques of handling, processing, packing, storage and transportation so that to raise their income and net the growing migration trends.
He expressed his hope that after completion of the training programme, the participants would become a driving force in arresting the inefficiencies right at grass root level by introducing and training the farmers about save handling, processing, packaging, storage and transportation. Dr Iqrar expressed his dismay over the limited share of Muslim countries in exporting the Halal Foods and told that out of $400 billion Halal Food trade, 75 percent exports are been made by Brazil and Argentina followed by Malaysia, Australia and Thailand.
Earlier, addressing the participants, Manager Horticulture Project, Pakistan Horticulture Development and Export Company (PHDEC) Razzaq A Malkana said though Pakistan is fourth largest country in producing date and fifth largest mango producer but due to low quality handling, processing and storage practices Pakistan could not harness the potential but by launching a massive campaign of equipping the youth with latest tools and techniques, the country can capitalise the opportunities of fruit and vegetable exports.
Malkana hoped that this training program of trainers would bring revolution in the rural agricultural practices at grass root level that would transform the whole agricultural chain.
DG NIFSAT Professor Faqir Muhammad Anjum highlighted the objectives of the TOT training course and tsaid that Pakistan is bestowed with immense natural as well as human resources and the climate is conducive to the growth of wide spectrum of fruit and vegetables in all seasons around the year in all provinces. He said that southern parts of Pakistan provide excellent conditions for the growth of mangoes, bananas, citrus and other tropical fruits, while the high mountain ranges in the north and north-west having extremely cold winters provide good conditions for temperature fruit like apple, apricots, and grapes etc.
Faqir Muhammad Anjum further said that Pakistan is producing more than 40 types of fruits and vegetables which have none to compare in the world with respect to taste and quality but unfortunately, every year more than 40 percent fruits and vegetables destroy every year due to poor and improper handling, grading, processing, storage and transportation.
He hoped that outcome of the training course, the trainers will try to educate producers, farmer groups and associations in a better way to produce value added products from fruits & vegetables rather than their export as fresh commodity. Associate Professor NIFSAT Dr Masood Sadiq Butt conducted the programme.